Clip board



Nov. 24, 1936. F. A. NIEMANN CLIP BOARD Filed Aug. 16, 1932 w [W Q Patented Nova 24, 136

CLIP BQAED Frederick A. Niema-nn, Chicago, Ill., assignor to i' elt & 'liarrant Mfg. 60., Chicago, 111., a corporation of llilinois Application August 16, 1932, Serial No. 629,046

14 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a device for holding record sheets for facilitating distribution of accounts and for facilitating computation from a multiplicity of separate similar record sheets; and more particularly to the provision of an arrangement of record sheets and means for maintaining said sheets in such arrangement on a support therefor so that when arranged upon said support a line guide may readily indicate like items across the series of said multiplicity of sheets for addition or extension in rapid calculation. The invention, generally, is an improvement upon the structure described in Letters Patent No. 1,817,640 to Neal Eberhart Newman and Frederick Adolph Niemann, granted August i, 1931.

An important object of the invention is to provide for the holding of a series or" record sheets in parallelism and in shingled relation and this without requiring special perforation or other formation of the sheets or strips of paper.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a sheet or record holding device adapted to receive and hold a multiplicity of strips or sheets of records in shingled relation and with only a column of each of said sheets exposed, by merely arranging the sheets or strips in overlapping relation and in registration with an exposed reference member of the backing .support, means being provided to hold the sheets securely in this relation as the computations are made from the extended items of the columns.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a record holding device of the character described, which will permit of the ready removal and substitution of particular strips of paper without disturbing the remainder and which at the same time will also permit of release of all the strips by .a single and simultaneous manipulation of the holding devices.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a record sheet holder having a wide range of adjustability and adapted without reconstruction to receive and hold a multiplicity of strips of paper of diiierent widths in desired, accurate shingled relation with merely a single edge of the columns of several strips exposed and arranged in closely adjacent relationship independently of the width of said exposed columns.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a record sheet holder of the character described, which will comprise, as .a major unit, an edge clamping device for shingled strips adapted for ready attachment to and detachment from a suitable backing support upon which the line guide may compactly and accurately arrange the strips for arithmetical computation and also to provide for ready reversible attachment of such unit and its assembled strips so that exposed columns of items on the opposite sides of the strips may be quickly extended without rearrangement of the device other than reversal upon the backing support.

The invention contemplates and has for its object structural improvements in prior known devices, which individually are of considerable importance and which will appear from the following description and claims.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a record holding device embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the parts in different relation.

The record sheet holder embodying the present invention and shown upon the drawing, cornprises a plate or backing member I 5 adapted for attachment to a backing support l2, and a plurality of spring clamps :3. In the instant embodiment of the invention and to attain advantages which will be hereinafter more fully apparent, the plate H and its clamping devices constitute a unit adapted to engage and hold a multiplicity of record strips in such shingled relation with a side column, one column of each of said strip-s being exposed and in closely adjacent relation with like columns of the otherstrips and with like items in transverse registration across the assembly.

The record strips are duplicates each of the other and a typical one of said strips is shown on the drawing and indicated by reference character M. This strip is provided at its top with suitable spaces and headings indicated at it for receiving, for example, the name of the salesman, the date of the strip, and the division of the busi ness in which the record is made. Below these head spaces and their titles the strip is provided along each of its sides with a column l8, ii and intermediate its columns with a central information column 18. The columns it, ii, and it are all) provided with identifying indicia 49 at the tops.

As in Patent No. 1,817,640, it is desired and intended that the strips be arranged in shingled relation with one or the other of the same side columns of the several shingled strips exposed. The record sheets or strips are. printed alike on both sides so that they provide opportunity for extension of four separate sets of columns in compiling information totals.

The plate It in the instant embodiment of the invention consists of a flat strip of metal somewhat longer than the intended width of the assembled and shingled multiplicity of strips. An angle member 25 is secured upon the plate by spot welding or otherwise to arrange one leg 22 extending vertically upwardly along that part of the plate to be occupied by the assembled record sheets. The upward extending leg 22 of the angle iron provides means for registering the record sheets accurately to expose merely the desired columns.

The plate or strip i extends rearwardly of the angle iron 2| a substantial distance and is bent upwardly at 23 and thereabo-ve inwardly at 24 to provide a channel part at the rear of the plate. The overhanging or free. edge of this channel part is formed to provide a recess 25 which serves to retain the upper ends 26 of springs 2'! actuating the clamps l3 and also to form a stop for these clamps when moved to their release position.

Each clamp 53 consists of or may consist of a single piece of sheet metal, generally of U shape or bowed form, adapted to engage the plate back of the angle iron 2i and to extend up over and down around it for engagement with the record strip ends as indicated in Fig. 2. A groove 28 is formed in the plate back of the angle iron 2| and the rear end of each of the clamps I3 is pivotally engaged in this groove. The rear leg of each clamp is provided with an opening 29 in which is engaged one end of its companion spring 21. Each spring 21 consists of a strip of spring steel, bowed by its engagement in the recess 25 and by its bent end 3| arranged in the companion opening 29 to press the clamp both into record strip engagement and against the free edge of the channel part of the plate.

The forward end of each clamp is provided with a central looped part 32, the outer member of which extends up and out in the form of a finger piece 33 to facilitate individual shifting of the clamp. On each side of the central loop part the clamp is provided with a projection 34 adapted to be brought down into holding engagement with the presented surface of the record sheet assembly. These ends may be sharp, as indicated in Fig. 1, although it is not necessary or intended that they perforate the paper.

A groove 35 is arranged across the plate at the point of engagement between the clamps and the assembled sheets so that the clamps press the sheets toward or into this groove and thereby increase the holding power of the clamps.

It will be observed by comparing Figs. 2 and 3 that the spring 21 holds the clamps both elevated and in strip engaging position. The grooves 25 and 28 extend throughout the length of the angle iron 2! and accordingly the clamps may be. shifted laterally by merely engaging its finger piece 33 to move the clamp laterally of the assembly. This construction permits of adjustment of the clamps as may be desired laterally of the strip assembly and the employment of a variable number of clamps as may be needed by the. strip dimensions.

The clamps are, of course, individually engageable and releasable. This arrangement is, of course, desirable in the original assembly of the shingled strips permitting the undermost strip to be first secured in position and then others arranged in overlapping relation and fastened in place. It is also desirable that individual strips may be removed and substitution made without disturbing strips not involved in such substitution.

Means are provided for simultaneous release of all of the clamps when new assembly is to be substituted for one previously arranged within the holder. The vertical leg 22 of the angle iron 2| is bent rearwardly at each end as indicated at 4!, and a second angle iron 42 is arranged loosely within the angle iron 2| and extends between the rearwardly extending ends 41 just described. The angle iron 42 is arranged within the bowed portions of the clamps l3 and at each end is provided with an upwardly and forwardly extending finger piece 43. Upward lift of either of the finger pieces 43 will cause the angle iron 42 to pivot about its rearmost edge and in such pivoting its forward edge is lifted, forcing up the clamps and causing them to pass the dead center of the springs 21 to be pulled back by the springs against the free edge of the channel part of the plate ll.

As has already been explained, the plate ll extends beyond the space occupied by the strip assembly. The base part of the plate extends beyond its channel part at the ends and is provided at each end with keyhole slots or recesses 44 extending in from opposite sides. The round portion of each of these slots upon the top and bottom of the plate is bevelled as indicated at 45. The recesses are provided to engage spring pressed holding members to secure the plate to the backing support I 2.

A post 5! is arranged through each of the two rear corners of the backing support and is provided with an enlarged head 52 above the support. The post 5| extends through a bushing 53 arranged through the support and also through a washer 54. A spring 55 embraces the lower end of the post and engages the washer 54 and a collar nut 56 threaded on to the lower post so that the spring urges the post downwardly. The lower part of the head 52 is tapered as indicated at 51 and the plate may be slid into locked position by sliding the keyhole slots 44 along the shank of the posts and until the tapered head 52 drops into the round bevelled recess of the slots.

Fig. 1 illustrates the arrangement of the parts with some of the clamps extending upwardly. A reverse arrangement, however, is possible to expose the opposite sides of the assembled strips by merely pulling the plate toward the operator, reversing it endwise, and engaging the near slots 44 instead of the far slots with the posts 5! Thus arranged the clamps are disposed beyond the rear edge of the backing support and it will be noted that the forward edge of the plate terminates beyond the tops of the numerical data in the columns to be computed.

A T-square, indicated in dotted lines at El is provided. This T-square, however, is not described in detail since it is or may be constructed as disclosed in Newman and Niemann Patent No. 1,817,640 hereinabove mentioned. As in said Patent No. 1,817,640, as the line guide BI is moved up and down across the bodies of the several record strips l4, it not only assures the accurate presentation of cross columns, but in cooperation with the end retaining device ll it prevents movement of the strips.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A record sheet holder for holding a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data and in shingled relation, said holder comprising a backing member upon which the ends of the sheets are arrangeable in shingled relation to expose only a predetermined column of numerical data of each sheet, and a series of laterally shiftable spring pressed clamps individually hinged upon said backing member and individually movable into engagement with and out of engagement with strips arrangeable on said backing member in shingled relation, and means for simultaneously moving engaged clamps out of engagement with said sheets.

2. A record sheet holder for holding a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data and in shingled relation, said holder comprising a plate upon which the ends of the sheets are arrangeable in shingled relation to expose only a predetermined column of numerical data of each sheet, and a series of spring pressed clamps for holding said strips in position, said plate being recessed adjacent its end for reversible attachment to a backing support.

3. A record sheet holder for holding a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of nu merical data and in shingled relation, said holder comprising a backing support, a unit for engaging the ends of said strips to hold them in desired predetermined shingled relation, and spring means associated with said backing support about which said unit may be engaged by lateral sliding movement for securing said unit and its assembled sheets to said backing support.

4. A record sheet holder for holding a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data and in shingled relation, said holder comprising a backing support, a unit for engaging the ends of said strips to hold them in desired predetermined shingled relation, and spring means associated with said backing support about which said unit may be engaged by lateral sliding movement for securing said unit and its assembled sheets to said backing support, said. spring pressed means being adapted to secure said unit with either side of said unit exposed upon said backing support.

5. A record sheet holder for holding a multiplicity of strips of pap-er having columns of numerical data in shingled relation, said holder comprising a backing support, a unit for engaging the ends of said strips to hold them in deafsired predetermined shingled relation, said unit comprising a backing member having recesses, and means associated with said backing support about which said backing member may be engaged by lateral sliding movement to secure said backing member to said backing support.

6. A sheet holder, comprising a base upon which the ends of several sheets are arrangeable, a gauge member for aligning the ends of the sheets, clamping means pivotally mounted on said base and cooperating with said base to hold the sheets, and spring means adapted to urge said clamping means into closed or open positions, the arrangement being such that no part of the clamping means overhangs the sheets when said clamping means is in open position.

7. A record sheet holder for holding a multi plicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data and in shingled relation, said holder comprising a backing member upon which the ends of the strips are arrangeable in shingled relation to expose only a predetermined column of numerical data of each strip, and a series of spring pressed clamps individually hinged upon said backing member and adjustable laterally to accommodate strips having different width of exposed columns and individually movable into engagement with and out of engagement with strips arrangeable on said backing member in shingled relation, and means for simultaneously moving engaged clamps out of engagement with said strips.

8. In a record sheet holder, a backing support upon which aplurality of sheets are arrangeable, and a sheet end retaining device reversibly attachable to said backing support to expose either side of said retained sheets, comprising a plate member and a plurality of retaining members for engaging the ends of said sheets, and laterally slidable on said plate member relatively to each other and to said backing support.

9. In a record sheet holder, a backing support upon which a plurality of sheets are arrangeable, a sheet end retaining device reversibly attachable to said backing support to expose either side of said retained sheets, comprising a plate member and a plurality of individually operable retaining members for engaging the ends of said sheets and laterally slidable on said plate member relatively to each other and to said backing support, and means for simultaneously moving all engaged retaining members out of engagement with said sheets.

10. In a record sheet holder, a backing support upon which a plurality of sheets are arrangeable, a sheet end retaining device comprising a plate member and a plurality of laterally shiftable retaining members for engaging the ends of said sheets, and means for removably securing said retaining device to said support.

11. In a record sheet holder, a backing support upon which a plurality of sheets are arrangeable,

a sheet end retaining device comprising a plate member and a plurality of laterally shiftable retaining members for engaging the ends of said sheets, and means for reversibly latching said retaining device to said support.

12. In a record sheet holder, a backing support upon which a plurality of sheets are arrangeable, a sheet end retaining device comprising a plate member and a plurality of laterally shiftable retaining members for engaging the ends of said sheets, and resilient means secured to the support for reversibly latching the retaining device to the support.

13. In a record sheet holder, a backing support upon which a plurality of sheets are arrangeable, a sheet end retaining device reversibly attachable to said backing support to expose either side of said retained sheets, comprising a plate member and a plurality of retaining members for en gaging the ends of said sheets, and laterally slidable on said plate member relatively to each other and to said backing support, and resilient means for removably securing said retaining device to said backing support.

14. A record sheet holder for holding a multiplicity of strips of paper having columns of numerical data and in shingled relation, said holder comprising a plate upon which the ends of the sheets are arrangeable in shingled relation to expose only a predetermined column of numerical data of each sheet, and a series of spring pressed clamps for holding said strips in position, said plate being recessed adjacent its ends for reversible attachment to a backing support, and means for latching said plate to said support. 5

FREDERICK A. NIEMANN. 

